First Aid for Burns: Parent FAQs

There are Three Types of Burns:

First Degree	The skin turns red, but it does not blister. It is somewhat painful, like a sunburn.
Second Degree	The outer layer of skin is burned, and some part of the dermis is damaged. The burn will be very painful and will likely develop blisters.
Third Degree	The skin will be charred or white. The epidermis and dermis (top two layers of skin) are irreversibly damaged.

Electrical burns or a burn where the skin is charred, leathery, burned away, or has no feeling is severe and should receive medical attention right away. Any blistering, swollen burn that covers an area larger than the size of your child's hand, or a burn that is on the hand, foot, face, genitals, or over a joint is a serious injury and should be seen immediately by a pedestrian or in an emergency room.  If you are worried about a burn, even if it doesn't look like any of the above types of burns, a pedestrian should see it.

My child has a minor burn. How should I treat it?

Most small, blistering burns can be treated and cared for at home. If you have any questions about whether a burn can be taken care of at home, discuss with your doctor.

Here's what you can do:

1. Cool the burn. Run cool running water over the burn for about five minutes. This helps stop the burning process and decreases pain and swelling. Do not put ice on a burn. Do not rub a burn, because this can worse the injury. Do not break blisters as this can increase the risk of infection at the burn site.

2. Cover the burn. Cover the burned area with a clean bandage that will not stick to the burned site. This helps decrease the risk of infection and decrease pain.

3. Protect the burn. Keep the burn site clean with gentle washing with soap and water. Do not apply any ointments to the burn site unless instruct by your pediatrician. Never apply butter, greases, or other home remedies to a burn before discussing with your pediatrician, as these can increase the risk of infection as well.  

Will my child's burn leave a scar?

The deeper the burn, the more likely that it will scar. Minor burns that do not blister usually heal without scarring. Burns that form blisters sometimes form a scar or may heal a different color than the surrounding skin.

To minimize scarring, keep burns covered until they have healed with new skin and o not weep any fluid. after this time, it is OK to keep the burn uncovered, but it should be protected from any sun for one year to avoid skin darkening. Sun protection can be coverage with clothing or sunscreen.

Did you know?

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 75% of burns in young children are from liquid, hot tap water, or steam. Another 20% are considered "contact" burns from touching a hot object like a clothes iron or hair appliance.

REF: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/First-Aid-For-Burns.aspx